Coin-exhibitor for coin-controlled mechanism.



No. 653,847. Y Patented July I7, 1900.

- J. M. RICKETTS.

COIN EXHIBITOR FOB COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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JAMES M. RICKETTS, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE POSTAGE ADVERTISING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

COIN-EXHIBITOR FOR COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 653,847, dated July 17, 1900.

Application filed December ll, 1899. Serial No. '73 9,991. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. RIOKETTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at First and San Fernando streets, San Jos, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Exhibitors for Coin-Controlled Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact dero scription of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates t'o improvements in coin-controlled mechanisms, and more particularly to coin-detectors therefor.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the invention, showing the runway in perspective. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of 2c the end of the coin-receptacle and showing the end of the coin-runway in perspective.

The object of the present invention is to prevent the use of tokens instead of coins in coin-operated mechanisms by exposing the piece by which the mechanism was operated throughout a subsequent series of operations of the mechanism.

With this object in view the invention consists in providing a coin-receptacle O,in which go the coins are held upright and before an opening in the case, through which they may be seen from outside the machine. The side of the receptacle 0 is cut away to form the opening D long enough to expose a desired num- 5 her of coins, that shown in the drawings being calculated to expose five coins. The receptacle is inclined to depress the end C, from which the coins are delivered into the money box or drawer of the machine. The inclined position of the receptacle C forms a column of six coins in the present machine, the first or lowest being held by the pin mounted on the Y-shaped lever E and on the arm E thereof. The pin is the sole obstacle to 5 prevent the coin passing down the receptacle through the end 0 and into the money box or drawer.

The lever E is suitably mounted on a pivot E, which is secured in position on the frame of the machine. It is mounted in an inclined position, and the lower arm is weighted at E to throw the arm E forward with suflicient pressure to counterbalance the weight of the column of coins in the receptacle 0. The lower end of the lever E is connected by the link or rod E to the lever E, which is mounted in the framework ofasuitable train of gears L, as shown in the drawings. The free end of the lever F rests in the path of the pin G, which is mounted on the face of a locked wheel of the train of gears. This wheel is locked by the lower end of the lever-I resting against the shoulder H, formed on a camshaped plate attached to the wheel or the shaft on which the same is mounted. The arm I is provided merely to assist. in arresting the movement of the train of gears and particularly the fan-governor K of the train. When now the lower end of the lever I is raised out of engagement with the shoulder H, the plate on which the shoulder is formed moves in. the rotary direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. This plate carries the pin G, which impinges upon the upper and free end of the lever F and moves it toward the lower end of the receptacle 0 until the pin passes off the lever end and permiis the lever to assume its normal position, while the pin moves on till the wheel and plate are arrested by the end of the lever I catching the shoulder H. As the lever F is thus moved, the lower end, connected to the lever E by the rod E is moved in the direction opposite to that followed by the free end or away from the lower end of the receptacle 0, causing thereby a movement of the Y-arins E and E with their pins E and E toward the lower end of the receptacle. This movement of the arms E and E results in lowering the end of the former and raising the end of the lat- 9o te'r. This movement is calculated to lower the pin E sufficiently for the coin held thereby to pass over it, while at the same time interposing the pin E in the path of the next succeeding coin, and thereby arresting the remainder of the column while the first coin is delivered. The parts remain in this position until the lever F is released by the pin G, when the weight E causes them to return to their normal positionpvith the pin E raised into the path of the coins and the pin E depressed from this path, where the column of coins moves downward until checked by the pin E while the coin by which this operation was inaugurated takes its position at the upper end of the column and at the upper end of the opening D. At each subsequent operation this coin is advanced one coin-space and is therefore in view for the predetermined number of operations.

If the number of exposed coins be large, the objection usually urged against coin-operated mechanisms is largely overcome. This objection is the facility with which a token or other device may be used and its use covered or concealed by immediately following its use with a coin. \Vhere one coin (the one used for the operation of the machine) only is exposed, the concealment described may be profitably and safely practiced; but where thd coins exposed number five and more the proportion of gain is slight and the chance of detection greater by reason of the longer time required before the false device passes out of sight.

To permit the pins E and E to follow the movements described, the bottom and sides of the receptacle are cut away, as shown in Fig. 1 of drawings.

, The operations as above described are inaugurated by the lever I raising or being raised out of engagement with the shoulder H. This is accomplished by the coin falling on the free end of this lever with sufficient force to dislodge the inner or engaged end of the said-lever. It is for this purpose that the free end is placed across the inner and lower end of the coin-runway B. This runway is provided with the opening A extending through the frame of the machine to which this invention is applied. It is inclined to drop the inner end to give the coin full impetus to strike the end of the lever I and is also inclined sidewise, as shown, to permit coins smaller than the nominated coin to topple over and through the opening B. (Shown in dotted lines at Fig. 2.) The end of the lever I extends through one side of hopper 0 The hopper C is large on top to permit the coin to avoid the lever I after striking and depressing it. Its sides are converged toward the bottom to deliver the coins into the receptacle O and while as widely separated as feasible are near enough to prevent the coin turning and lodging in the hopper. If this space were not provided in the hopper, the coin might rest on the lever I and continue the operation until the machine was run down and the receptacle 0 exhausted. It also furnishes an opportunity to load the receptacle with the requisite number of coins prior to placing the machine in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a coin-controlled mechanism, adriven wheel having a projection thereon, mechanism adapted to be operated by the passage of a coin for permitting intermittent rotation of said wheel, a coin-receptacle to receive a coin after it has operated upon the said wheelcontrolling mechanism, said receptacle having a portion through which two or more coins are exposed to view, a pivoted lever having one end in the path of movement of the said projection on the driven wheel, a link upon the other end of said lever, and two detents upon said link,adapted to engage respectively the first and second coins in the said receptacle, the second detent being out of engagement with the said second coin when the first detent engages the said first coin, said detents being adapted to operate in unison whereby when the first detent releases the said first coin the second detent engages the said second coin; substantially as described.

2. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a driven wheel having a projection thereon,a coinchute, a lever havingone end in the path of the travel of the coin through said chute and its other end adapted to engage and lock said wheel except when the lever is under the influence of the coin, a coin-receptacle to receive the coin after it has operated upon said lever,said receptacle having a portion through which two or more coins are exposed to view, a pivoted lever having one end in the path of movement of the said projection on the driven wheel, a link upon the other end of said lever, and two detents upon said link, adapted to engage respectively the first and second coins in the said receptacle, the second detent being out of engagement with the said second coin when the first detent engages the said first coin, said detents being adapted to operate in. unison whereby when the first detent releases the said first coin the second detent engages the said second coin; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of November, 1899.

JAMES M. RIOKETTS.

Witnesses:

E. F. MURDooK, G. W. MARSH.

ICC 

